I am considering going back to school at UB to get my PharmD. It is the equivalent of a MD to a doctor or a DDS to a dentist. I am looking at starting as a retail pharmacist and combining that with my business experience to try and land a regional pharmacy director position within say 5 years of graduation. What I am looking for is some feedback on the local job market that isn’t skewed by happy admission people that are paid to make you sign on the dotted line.
Market is saturated in Buffalo. No more 25k sign on bonuses, no more massive $75/hr overtime. There is an oversupply of pharmacists in the WNY and even the east coast as most of the pharmacy schools are located here. And new pharmacy schools are popping up every year (D’youville.) Currently 129 pharmacy schools in the US. Let’s take a conservative estimate of 13,000 new pharmD’s out each year. In 5 years that’s 75,000 new PharmD’s. PharmD’s is the new JD.
There is a big push for clinical pharmacy which really hasn’t taken off yet in this area. Pharmacists are also allowed to give flu shots now, which infringes upon the jobs of other professions (like the nurses and pa’s.) There really needs to be a new niche for pharmacists if we are to keep the 6 figure salaries that pharmacists are pulling in now.
On top of that, it’s super competitive. If you have a bachelor’s, you need at least a 3.5+ gpa. Need at least 80th percentile on your pcat. No C’s in prerequisites either. :tif:
My wife is in her 2nd year of Pharmacy school here in NV. The school she goes to requires you get a 90% on every test you take or you fail. 89% = fail. Here in NV there are a ton of jobs available. Everywhere she has interned at has had openings and has offered her a job when she graduates. I’ve heard WNY is over saturated due to all the Pharmacy schools there. Good luck with your decision.
UB Pharm school is crazy hard. There is always like 300 kids in it and then they only take like 75 or something crazy so unless you can pull a 3.75+ don’t even bother wasting your time or money. When I was there I knew a lot of people who had 3.5 and 3.6 GPAs and didn’t make the cut.
I know a girl that just graduated from pharmacy school and walked right into a 6 figure job here in rochester. apart from the money it sounds like a pretty boring job with high consequences for any mistakes and miserable work hours.
I applied to PharmD schools after I went to UB for a second bachelor’s degree, and had a 3.85 GPA in my last 140 credit hours (but ONLY 3.4 overall, unfortunately), scored in the 96-98th percentile in every category on the PCAT, and still got wait-listed for the UB PharmD program. Every year, it’s like 2000+ people are applying for 75 spots. It’s almost as bad trying to get in to other schools too. I didn’t have any pharmacy references or experience, so I guess I wasn’t qualified to go to school for it. I guess you need to know somebody or blow somebody.
Like others mentioned, and now after working with a former pharmacy tech, I’m kind of glad I didn’t go into pharmacy, as it sounds like a crappy job dealing with drug-addict customers on a daily basis, plus miserable hours and at least in the retail stores, more managerial responsibilities leading to you wanting to do anything else, even if it doesn’t pay six figures.
I went into a PhD program instead… but that’s not what I thought it would be either.
good info here. looks like I may give up on the whole Pharm D thing. The VA keeps posting a PharmD job starting at 92K. it keeps sparking my interest but I have a long road ahead of me if I wanted to pursue that.
Similar story. I know someone who graduated from UB Pharm and landed a job right away. Shes making 6 figures but like you said, it sounds boring talking to people about the pills their taking, tons of liability, and the hours suck.
A good friend of mine is a pharmacist at Kmart. It isn’t a busy location so he doesn’t have a tech working with him. So when he’s not busy filling perscriptions he’s Facebooking and ringing people up who are buying motor oil and toothpaste. He makes great money though and works a few Saturdays each month.
I wouldn’t dissuade you from going for it, but unless you have a stellar academic record and good references, just be realistic about your chances of getting in…
Honestly, making 6 figures right out of a 3 year program would probably go a long way to make up for having a less than ideal job! I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no ideal job anyway. Working sucks, so you might as well get paid.
if PharmD proves too hard you can always get a job without a degree in street_PharmD, also has high risks and no benefits, but you can work your own hours and the pay is great.
Statistics are more like 1,700 applicants for 120 spots. 60 is taken up by early assurance, so you have 60 spots for 1700 people. That’s 3.5% acceptance rate. But on the other hand I know people with 3.1 gpa, but great PCAT score and a lot of work experience, ect. There’s also a PhD in our class too.
You have great stats to me. There shouldn’t be a reason why you’re not accepted, except if you fail at the interview. Trust me, there are easier schools to get into like D’youville (which is not accredited) or even LECOM. I was accepted to all the pharmacy schools that I applied to with similar stats to you plus 2 years work experience as a certified technician.
There’s more to pharmacy then just retail. Clinical pharmacists love their jobs. There’s a misconception that pharmacists only work at Rite Aid, there’s tons of fields.
depends on where you work. Rite Aid is the worst. You’ll make minimum. Walgreens start their techs at $9.50 and if you’re certified then it’s $10.50. Interns earn $14+.
Long - Haha I didn’t even get an interview… I think the lack of any kind of pharmacy experience and pharmacy references killed my chances. That’s why I didn’t apply to medical school, no doctors in the family, and never worked for one. Anyways I’m not bitter, I’ve just chosen a different, less well paid path.
Wow I honestly didn’t know they took experience that seriously because half the class never even step foot in a pharmacy. I would be really pissed with stats like yours and not even an interview. But you’ll have a PhD, which in my book supercedes a PharmD.
You’re probably talking about early assurance students who do 2 years prerequisites + 4 years in pharmacy school. People with bachelors tend to have a much more diverse background before entering pharmacy school, IMO.
Minimum wage. Pharm techs need no qualifications. I was one when I was 16 till I finished high school then on/off through college.
Anyhow, PharmD = 6 years of chemistry classes then a 6 figure job counting pills and dealing with sick people who blame you for their shitty drug coverage. Not for me anyway. While having higher aspirations are good, don’t become a pharmacist if you don’t want to be a pharmacist.